When I first started writing, the last thing I wanted to write was historical fiction. I thought it would be tooooo much research. The truth is . . . it is!
But I also discovered I LOVE research, and writing historical fiction has become a love of mine. A few things I’ve done while researching for my historical novels:
1. I’ve interviewed a Holocaust survivor in a village in Austria just a few minutes from where he was liberated.
2. I’ve taking a tour of an Alaskan bay and saw the swish of a whale’s tale.
3. I walked the cobblestone streets of Prague—the very streets Nazis once marched down.
4. I wandered through a Jewish museum in Frankfurt, Germany, and learned of the horrors done to Jews over generations.
5. I’ve interviewed a ninety-three-year-old rancher in Montana whose parents were homesteaders.
6. I’ve chatted with a woman who was a riveter for B-17 Bombers in Seattle during World War II.
History is fascinating! The people are fascinating. The hard part is making sure my historical novels aren’t entirely about the history. Historical fiction should not be boring!
Yes, the piles of shoes and clothes found upon liberation of the concentration camp amazes me, but I always have to ask myself, “Is this information vital to my story?”
Facts can weigh down your novel, no matter how interesting the facts are.
When I first started writing historical fiction I researched way too much. When I wrote my first historical novel From Dust and Ashes,
I learned about the places the prisoners came from, their lives before the war, their lives after the war, how they got to the death camps, and what happened afterward.
One of the fascinating things I read about was Displaced Person Camps. Those who survived the concentration camps went to these camps until they were able to find their way home. At these camps families were reunited or people discovered the deaths of their loved ones.
When writing From Dust and Ashes I wanted to include this information; after all, I’d spent so much time learning about the camps. So in the middle of my story my characters left their location, went to one of these camps, looked for someone (who wasn’t there), and then returned. The scenes were powerful and emotional, but they had no place in the story . . . and my editor pointed that out.
In the end those chapters were cut. I was sad (because now I’d spent time writing those scenes, too), but it was worth it. The book was better for it.
So while researching for historical novels is important, don’t let the research take you on a rabbit trail. It’s a waste of time, and it’ll most likely need to be cut.
Today, when I sit down to write my historical fiction, I figure out what’s going to be in the novel and what information I’ll need; I’ll research only that. Of course, sometimes my research will uncover a gem I have to add, but for the most part I focus only what I’ve already determined my story needs.
So write history! Write it well! Don’t be afraid to write historical fiction. But don’t let too many facts get in the way of writing a beautiful story. You do need the facts—just not as many as you think.
Whatever must be excluded here could very well be waiting for their Very Own Story.
I love that point, Mary. So true!
That is exactly right, Mary! It’s happened before…those interesting facts have turned into novels of their own 🙂
I am so close to finishing my very first book and it required a lot of historical research. I did get hung up on some very specific things because it seems like credibility hinges on whether or not I get the details correct. To make matters more complicated, it was ancient biblical history, (yes, perhaps too ambitious for a first book project?)
and so many cultural aspects to different customs and traditions had to be learned that aren’t spelled out in the Bible.
I ended up cutting some of those things out anyhow, because like you said, it didn’t even add to the story and just bogged me down!
I almost quit a few dozen times, but would just shelve it for a while and take it back out again!
Thank you for these encouraging words, Tricia!
I’m so glad you kept going. It sounds like a VERY worthy project!
Yeah, yeah they fell in love and a bunch of people died, but was it did they use a 2 or 3 gallon jug?
LOL! This made me smile.
I love, love research and I have to watch myself when putting the story together – making sure I remember it’s the story that counts the most. I too have traveled to places and interviewed people to gather information. It’s so much fun – but like you said – it’s work.
I just recently returned from a research trip to California and I can’t wait to put my information in my WIP. I also might have an opportunity to privately tour a closed up location most of my story is set in. It’s easy to get caught up in the mysteries and little known facts.
Great post, thanks.
Jan
Jan, it’s those small details you learned that will come through in ways you don’t realize!
I hope I am entered contest in the book contest.
Hi Tricia,
Like Jan said, I’m totally prone to hopping down the bunny trails of research. I love it. But you make an excellent point that can be applied to all writing – information that doesn’t affect a story simply shouldn’t be included. Painful incision required. Grrrr.
Blessings,
Becky
Becky, remember to save any unused information for blog posts, too! People love that extra stuff.
Hi Tricia! I’m a new follower via GFC and a fellow writer of historical fiction, though my debut novel isn’t slated for release until next year. Just wanted to say hi and that I found you via a google alert set to “historical fiction.” You discussion inspired a blog of mine which will be posting at lkhill.blogspot.com on Monday. Have a great weekend and I’ll see ya around the blogosphere! 😀
So glad to connect!
Liesel,
Congrats on your debut novel! That’s great about the blog, too!
Blessings,
Tricia
Thanks for the inspiration, I love history and it is so great to hear from someone else who loves it too. I especially like the stories that people are not as familiar with.
This reminds me of all the background we need to know about a character before we can write about them (the color of their hair, little idiosyncrasies etc.) that gives depth to our characters and to our writing. Perhaps the facts you wanted to include needed to be the unseen background of the story so you could write. Thank you for sharing this, I’ve been struggling with a “faction” book myself.
I’m researching to write a book set during the Reformation. It is FASCINATING! I might end up researching forever and never write, though I’ve started 3 times. It’s my first attempt at writing and I don’t even have the education for it but I am determined to do it!